--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the internal griefs of every man could…" description: "\"If the internal griefs of every man could be read, written on his forehead, how many who now excite envy would appear to be the objects of pity?\" — Pie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/pietro-metastasio-24319_death_if-the-internal-griefs-of-every-man-coul_1672574.jpg" --- # If the internal griefs of every man could be read, written… ![“If the internal griefs of every man could be read, written on his forehead, how many who now excite envy would appear to be the objects of pity?” quote by Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/pietro-metastasio-24319_death_if-the-internal-griefs-of-every-man-coul_1672574.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/pietro-metastasio-24319_death_if-the-internal-griefs-of-every-man-coul_1672574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/pietro-metastasio-24319_death_if-the-internal-griefs-of-every-man-coul_1672574.jpg) > “If the internal griefs of every man could be read, written on his forehead, how many who now excite envy would appear to be the objects of pity?” [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If inner sorrows were visible, those who envy would appear pitiable, revealing hidden suffering behind outward success. **In simple terms:** Hidden pain makes envied people seem pitiable. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances. Themes empathy humility perception Mood reflective somber Type philosophical empathetic When to use this quote - social media - workplace dynamics - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology human condition Questions to Reflect On - What hidden struggles might you be overlooking? - How does visibility of pain change judgment? A Different Perspective Assuming outward success equals happiness can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) ## Related quotes > [If the best man's faults were written on his forehead, he would draw his hat over his eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/if-the-best-man-s-faults-were-written-on-his-forehead-he-would-draw/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [“Perhaps the measure of the best art is that it does not excite envy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/perhaps-the-measure-of-the-best-art-is-that-it-does-not-excite-envy/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces, and viewing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/my-own-sex-i-hope-will-excuse-me-if-i-treat-them-like-rational/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Look around in the world, and you may see some in every place who are objects of pity, bereaved by sad accidents of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/look-around-in-the-world-and-you-may-see-some-in-every-place-who-are/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consists. 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Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasinda-wilder/i-feel-like-everyone-who-sees-me-knows-what-i-am-as-if-it-is-written/) [Jasinda Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasinda-wilder/) > [“Since I was born, I have lost my identity. So it has been written on my forehead as Palestinian. Is that enough eternally? Fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amany-al-hallaq/since-i-was-born-i-have-lost-my-identity-so-it-has-been-written-on-my/) [Amany Al-Hallaq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amany-al-hallaq/) > [“When he comes to the door he always looks mocking and half-way angry. You can see he has sympathy for nothing. It's written on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goethe/when-he-comes-to-the-door-he-always-looks-mocking-and-half-way-angry/) [Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goethe/) > [“Ridge: Oh, and btw, I didn't write that on your forehead. What? I run to the dresser and look in the mirror for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/ridge-oh-and-btw-i-didn-t-write-that-on-your-forehead-what-i-run-to/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Do I have stupid written over my forehead?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-judy/do-i-have-stupid-written-over-my-forehead/) [Judge Judy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-judy/) > [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Many a crown Covers bald foreheads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/many-a-crown-covers-bald-foreheads/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her full on the mouth. His skin was wet with rain. When she didn't pull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/he-put-his-hands-on-her-shoulders-and-kissed-her-full-on-the-mouth/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) ## More by Pietro Metastasio > [High birth is an accident, not a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/high-birth-is-an-accident-not-a-virtue/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The pilot who is always dreading a rock or a tempest must not complain if he remain a poor fisherman. We must at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-pilot-who-is-always-dreading-a-rock-or-a-tempest-must-not/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The canker which the trunk conceals is revealed by the leaves, the fruit, or the flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-canker-which-the-trunk-conceals-is-revealed-by-the-leaves-the/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [An old warrior is never in haste to strike the blow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/an-old-warrior-is-never-in-haste-to-strike-the-blow/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The aged oak upon the steep stands more firm and secure if assailed by angry winds; for if the winter bares its head, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-aged-oak-upon-the-steep-stands-more-firm-and-secure-if-assailed/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The eye that gazes upon the sun sees not the orb it looks upon, confounded by the excess of its brightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-eye-that-gazes-upon-the-sun-sees-not-the-orb-it-looks-upon/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [We are like vessels tossed on the bosom of the deep; our passions are the winds that sweep us impetuously forward; each pleasure is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/we-are-like-vessels-tossed-on-the-bosom-of-the-deep-our-passions-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Cowards' weapons neither cut nor pierce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/cowards-weapons-neither-cut-nor-pierce/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [It is the just decree of Heaven that a traitor never sees his danger till his ruin is at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/it-is-the-just-decree-of-heaven-that-a-traitor-never-sees-his-danger/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The bee and the serpent often sip from the selfsame flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-the-selfsame-flower/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [It is by no means a fact that death is the worst of all evils; when it comes it is an alleviation to mortals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/it-is-by-no-means-a-fact-that-death-is-the-worst-of-all-evils-when-it/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Love is a feeling that comes into our hearts of our own choice for neither force nor harshness can limit the heart's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/love-is-a-feeling-that-comes-into-our-hearts-of-our-own-choice-for/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [How full of error is the judgment of mankind! They wonder at results when they are ignorant of the reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/how-full-of-error-is-the-judgment-of-mankind-they-wonder-at-results/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Every noble acquisition is attended with its risks; he who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/every-noble-acquisition-is-attended-with-its-risks-he-who-fears-to/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) [Explore all 24 Pietro Metastasio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. 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Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. 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